Hostel review turns sour as trolls and owner hit out

Bad Stay: Louise Taylor, from Preston, became an internet sensation when her scathing review of a Glasgow hostel was posted online

A scathing review, an angry hostel owner and a global sports event has turned one woman’s trip into a viral hit online.

Support worker Louise Taylor travelled to Glasgow to watch the Commonwealth Games last week and paid £50 to stay at the Blue Sky Hostel.

Louise, from Preston, slated her stay on the hostel’s Facebook page but the 30-year-old’s complaints were met with anger and insults by owner Todd Pedersen and internet trolls.

The post turned into a heated debate between the duo and thousands of others with Todd calling Louise a “retard” and dismissing her claims.

The complaint has received 1,369 likes and 2,327 comments so far and Louise admitted that she was shocked by the attitude of the owner.

She said: “The response I received from the owner was completely unexpected. I didn’t expect a response at all never mind such an aggressive abusive outburst.

“I would have been happy with a simple apology. His use of the word ‘retard’ was particularly shocking and as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities that made me feel very uncomfortable.

“The whole building was in a state of disrepair with an odour of damp throughout. There were holes in walls, broken showers, doors which didn’t lock, broken windows, beds which were falling apart and wires protruding from walls.

“The owner was storming around in the reception using foul language and was very unapproachable.”

Mr Pederson said that he believes Louise and her friends had launched a ‘campaign of hate’ against him.

He said: “Her and her friends decided to harass me and the other friends have made it go viral because they are computer hackers. They have harassed me but I don’t care because my hostel is now number one on Google.”

Louise said she was surprised her review became such a huge internet hit.

She said: “I was surprised it went viral and even more taken aback with the resulting response from people around the world.

“I had messages from people supporting me and even apologising on behalf of the people of Glasgow that I had a bad time there but also messages from people threatening and insulting me - mostly trolls who had joined in on the original thread.

“The most frustrating bit has been the hostel owner’s complete denial of the state of the place and insisting I didn’t complain in person whilst I was there which I absolutely did.”